Much like spots, pigmentation or fine lines, dark circles are one of those things that, sadly, there is no quick skincare fix for. Oftentimes they’re hereditary, in which case you’re likely stuck with them, and when they are caused by things like lack of sleep then the only thing that will truly help is getting a solid eight hours of kip. Easier said than done, right? Trust me, I know. For me, eye bags and dark circles used to be very much a theoretical part of my job—sure, I knew that people had them, but I never really understood the fuss about eye cream because I truly had nothing to tackle. Fast forward to today, however, and oh how I laugh at past me. I am now 34 with two young kids and dark circles, puffiness and and discolouration are very much a part my under-eye tick list. Of course, dark circles aren’t something to be ashamed of, and our skin changing and ageing is a privilege, but if, like me, you’d rather disguise them just a little bit, you’ve come to the right place.
I have taken to my dark circles like any good beauty editor and made it my mission to try basically every eye cream on the market that promises to help combat them. And I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s one vital ingredient that actually makes a difference: Vitamin C.
I’ve always been a big fan of using vitamin C in my serums and moisturisers, but as I had never fully committed to using an eye cream in my routine previously I honestly didn’t know where to start when it came to choosing one. But it was the discovery of the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème (£35) that first drew my attention to the benefits of using vitamin C under my eyes. Formulated with three types of vitamin C along with real gold, which is said to improve the delivery of vitamin C to your skin, this eye cream genuinely makes my eyes look so much brighter and my dark circles noticeably less visible. In fact, it’s so damn good that I genuinely suggest it to every single person asks for an eye cream recommendation and I’m on something like my fifth or sixth pot of the stuff. I truly can’t imagine my skincare routine without it now.
But what actually is it about vitamin C that makes it so effective at combatting dark circles? “Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant that targets darkness, fine lines and dullness by boosting elasticity and enhancing brightness,” explains Mary-Ann Keenan, Senior Content & Artistry Manager at Ole Henriksen. And one of the best things about it for under-eyes is that the benefits are two-fold. “Short term [vitamin C] provides an instant glow… but over time you will see visibly brighter, smoother and hydrated under-eyes,” says Keenan. Of course, this is all good news for tired eyes like mine but Keenan does point out that it’s important to choose a vitamin C formula that’s suitable for under-eyes. For visible results that won’t irritate the delicate skin around our eyes, Keenan recommends seeking out a stable, low concentration of vitamin C mixed with a pure form of vitamin C like ascorbic acid.
Ahead, keep scrolling to discover 14 of the best vitamin C eye creams for dark circles, puffiness and under-eye bags.
As far as I’m concerned, this is the best vitamin C eye cream on the market—and I’ve been through enough pots to feel confident in my decision. Everything from the triple vitamin C complex to the banana powder-inspired pigments, which give the cream its yellowish hue, work together to instantly brighten tired eyes and reduce darkness overtime. I truly can’t get enough of it.
I adore the packaging of this eye cream. Vitamin C is notoriously unstable, so this airtight bottle prevents it from being exposed to the elements to keep its efficacy in check. This formulation uses an impressive five forms of vitamin C for a real brightening boost, along with cucumber extract to cool and de-puff and peptides to firm and tone.
As the name suggests, this is a seriously potent vitamin C eye cream and, as such, I’m not sure how well suited it would be particularly sensitive complexions. However, if like me, your skin loves vitamin c then this is a great eye cream to have in your stash when those dark circles aren’t going anywhere. Formulated with 10% THD ascorbate—a form of vitamin C that is 50 times more powerful than it’s traditional counterpart—it really does help to dissipate dark circles. Plus, there’s ferulic acid, caffeine, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to target fine lines, rehydrated tired skin and awaken the eye area.
Dare I say it, but this might be a bit of a dupe for my beloved Ole Henriksen eye cream. It also contains brightening banana powder for instant gratification, but there’s 4% vitamin C, smoothing niacinamide and caffeine to target puffiness too. While, for me, the texture isn’t quite as nourishing and the effects not quite as luminous, it’s a brilliant option if you’re looking for a great vitamin C eye cream on a budget.
For me, this eye cream bridges the gap between skincare and makeup—and also acts as a fantastic primer for any concealer that you want to apply on top. The formula itself is formulated with vitamin C and peptides to help replenish the skin and support collagen production long-term. However, it’s the apricot hue and slight shimmer of this eye cream that I think sets it apart from others. It neutralises darkness, immediately brightens and adds major glow to the eye area.
When it comes to making truly efficacious formulations with science-led ingredients, Paula’s Choice is a brand that I know I can trust and their vitamin C eye cream proves it. Using 5% stabilised vitamin C at its core, this eye cream is really focused on not only helping you look like you’ve had a full night’s sleep but also protecting skin long-term. To do this, it also contains peptides and hyaluronic acid to smooth and nourish dry areas while zerumbone (a form of ginger extract) reduces discolouration beneath eyes. Clever stuff.
The texture of this corrector is much more like a serum than a classic eye cream, but the results are so impressive that I’m including it in my round-up anyway. It uses gold-stabilised vitamin C to ensure that your eyes are getting as many brightening antioxidants as possible along with light-reflecting micro-minerals for radiance and red and brown algae extracts to help with puffiness. And it has some really impressive clinical results with 85% of users seeing a reduction in dark circles with 6 weeks of use.
If you’re wary of using vitamin C because you have more of a sensitive complexion then I’d recommend checking out this eye cream from REN. It has been formulated specifically with sensitive skin in mind, using clean ingredients like elderberry flower extract and glycogen to deeply hydrate, reduce puffiness and illuminate skin without causing irritation.
I’ll admit that this is an eye-wateringly expensive product. But, what can I say? Omorovicza know what’s up when it comes to formulating luxurious skincare products that deliver on results, and this beautiful eye cream is no different. You need to smooth on just the tiniest amount to watch your dark circles diminish and your eyes look more wide-awake. Plus, alongside vitamin C it’s got vitamins A and E which help to smooth fine lines, blur wrinkles and improve skin health.
I’d describe this as a facial for your under-eyes–that’s how good it is. It’s effectively a concentrated serum enriched with vitamins C and E that sinks quickly into skin to leave your eye area looking dewy and fresh. The lightweight texture means it feels wonderfully cooling on tired eyes and it smells incredible too.
This is a bit of a cult product in the beauty community thanks to the way it delivers all of the best vitamin C skincare benefits to tired eyes alongside some instantly gratifying colour correction. Available in two shades—the pinkier-toned Original for paler skin tones and the peachier-toned Warm for deeper skin tones—it immediately counteracts the bluey-purple colours in dark circles and evens skin tone. Plus, it’s packed with coffee beans, ginseng and niacinamide to help that well-rested appearance stick around for the long haul.
This is a heavy hitter amongst the best vitamin C eye creams thanks to its potent, science-led formulation. Along with a hefty 7.5% concentration of L-Ascorbic acid (that’s stabilised vitamin c to you and me) it also contains 40% botanically-derived hyaluronic acid and copper tripeptides to plump skin and target early signs of ageing all the while brightening dark circles and protecting tired skin. Plus, the lightweight serum texture melts beautifully into under-eyes.
After going viral on TikTok amongst Gen Z, Kinship are finally here in the UK and their eye cream has made itself very much at home amongst my other vitamin C favourites. Alongside the star ingredient it contains red algae and chaga mushroom to de-puff and smooth, but it’s the cooling texture that I really rate in this product. It feels so soothing on the most tired of eyes and the apricot-toned cream does a brilliant job at reducing the appearance of dark circles and prepping skin for concealer.
Heritage skincare brand Antipodes boast some seriously impressive sustainable formulations, and their vitamin C eye cream is one of the best. It’s a gentle formulation that’s free from parabens, sulphates and phthalates and is infused with antioxidant-rich grape and kiwi extracts to improve elasticity alongside 23 karat gold flakes for eye-opening brightness. Even better? It also safeguards skin against blue light, UV rays and pollution. Up Next: I Have Dark Under-Eye Circles and These Are the Only 11 Concealers That Work for Me. This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
